NEC strengthens product lineup for fiber optic transceivers

Fiber Optics Weekly Update, March 21, 2003

NEC FiberOptech Inc., a subsidiary of NEC USA, announced the introduction of new fiber optic transceivers that will be displayed at the OFC 2003 show in Atlanta. The three new breakthrough products are:

(1) The world's first 10 Gbps optical transponder with built-in semiconductor optical amplifier for 80km long-reach applications

(2) 2.5 0bps SFP transponder for 40km reach applications

(3) 1.25 0bps E-PON transceiver for optical access applications

The product features include:

1) 10 Gbps optical transponder with built in semiconductor optical amplifier for 80km longreach applications. (OD-J8967)

The product is the world's first 10 0bps optical transponder capable of long reach transmission to 80 kilometers that meets the Telcordia OC-192 LR-2b/ITU-T G.691 L-64.2b specification and is compliant with the mechanical and electrical standards of the 300-pin MultiSource Agreement (MSA) for 100bps optical transponders.

The new 104mm x 89mm x 16mm (4in x 3.Sin x .63in) component is expected to bring about a significant reduction in the size and cost of long reach transmission systems, as the need for external optical amplifiers such as erbium-doped fiber amplifiers (EDFA) or additional passive dispersion compensation devices is eliminated. The critical breakthrough in the transponder is a fully-integrated transmitter module that is comprised of a modulator-driver chip, an EML chip (electroabsorption modulator integrated DFB-laser) and Genoa's new second-generation single-chip linear optical amplifier (LOA), all combined on a common substrate. The LOA loaded optical module was jointly developed by NEC and Genoa Corporation.

2) 2.5Gbps SFP transponder for 40km reach applications (OD-J8842)

This product consists of a compact 2.5 gigabit per second (Gbps) optical transponder packaged in an SFP (small form factor pluggable) module, capable of long reach transmission to 40 kilometers that meets the Telcordia OC-48 LR-1/ITU-T G.957 L-16.1 specification and is ideally suited for Metro applications.

The new 56.5mm x 13.5mm x 8.5mm component makes possible a significant reduction in the size and cost of long reach transmission systems. The critical breakthrough in the transponder is a fully-integrated transceiver module that is comprised of a high sensitivity APD (avalanche photodiode) essential for long distance transmission, its bias generation circuits and bias control circuits. The new product will be sold worldwide. Mass production of the product will begin this month. NEC is targeting sales of the 2.5Gbps to exceed 20,000 units within the next 2 years.

3) 1.25Gbps E-PON transceiver for optical access applications (OD-B1222-N21, OD-B1222L-21)

The products are transceiver modules for optical network unit (ONU) and optical line terminal (OLT), suitable to Ethernet PON systems. NEC has started sample delivery of these transceiver modules to PON system equipment vendors. The critical breakthrough in the transceiver modules is a fully-integrated transceiver module that is comprised of planar lightwave circuits with WDM function loaded with a LD and a PD by our passive alignment technique, essential for mass production at low cost. The modules are also loaded with a burst-mode transmitter LSI and a burst-mode receiver LSI designed and developed by NEC for high speed data transmission at 1.25Gbps. The new product will be sold world wide. Mass production of the product will begin in June, 2003. NEC expects to ship more than 150,000 units of all PON transceivers, including existing products, within a year.